Therapy for Black Girls, Session 403: Black Women In Media (March 19, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is joined by Asia Miliah Aware (Beauty Editor at The Cut) and Tasha McCaskill (founder of Black Girls in Media) for a deep and nuanced conversation about Black women in the media industry. They explore career beginnings, the changing media landscape, the importance of representation, mentorship, and community, mental health implications of the work, and how independent platforms are evolving opportunities for Black women in media.

1. The Journey Into Media

Traditional Pathways: Internships and Education

• Asia’s Story: Internships at major publications like Essence and InStyle following a longstanding passion for fashion and beauty, influenced by both childhood interests and early mentorship.

  • “I am now a beauty editor at New York magazine's The Cut. To make a long story short, I've always known that I wanted to work in magazines, work in fashion and beauty. But I really started interning when I was at Hampton University.” (05:31, Asia)

• Tasha’s Story: From Charlotte, NC to NYU, PR studies, and multiple internships. Desire for community led to founding Black Girls in Media.

  • “I started off with internships too... I started going into social media, growing my personal social media, but then also joining companies on their social media team.” (06:04, Tasha)

The Importance of Testing & “Trying Everything”

• Both guests emphasize the value of exploring different avenues—PR, marketing, radio—before settling into their niches.
  • “My mom would always be like, you need to try everything to make sure that is really what you want to do.” (07:52, Asia)

2. Representation and Evolution in Media

Early Influence & Representation

• Asia reminisces about growing up with magazines like Teen Vogue and Vibe, but notes the impact of not seeing Black or plus-size women in those spaces.
  • “But there was nobody Black and there was nobody over a size 2…because I didn’t see myself represented.” (08:18, Asia)

The Current Landscape

• Tasha underscores the increasing opportunity for Black women, thanks to content creation and independent platforms.

  • “We are the media, we are the culture. We shape what's happening. We shape what's trending.” (11:07, Tasha)

• Asia highlights the crucial role of Black women mentors and the concept of “reaching as we climb.”

  • “When we get in, not closing the door behind us... We are also in these spaces to make sure that other Black women are coming up behind us.” (12:02, Asia)

3. Thriving in Independent and Traditional Spaces

Creating Your Own Lane

• The need for Black women to carve out space is discussed, especially amid declining opportunities in traditional media.
  • “If you aren’t going to give me an opportunity, I’m going to create an opportunity myself.” (13:13, Asia)
  • "You just have to. And so I think along with mentorship, it's been, like, always having your own lane." (14:33, Asia)

The Power of Independent Platforms

• Substacks, blogs, and podcasts allow for authentic voices, freedom from editorial constraints, and community formation.
  • “When you have your own platform, there are no limits to what you can say. And I think that is when your audience and your community find you.” (15:32, Asia)
• Tasha adds that this visibility inspires the next generation and democratizes access to mentors and role models.
  • “The importance of us sharing what we do as a person, as a Black woman, but also as a career, that inspiration through that value through our platforms is super important.” (16:47, Tasha)

4. Advice for Aspiring Media Professionals

Don’t Skip the Work

• “Put the work in. I always tell young women right now, do not steer away from the work... that is not even, like, 10% of the job.” (19:02, Asia)
• Both discuss the value and sometimes necessity of unpaid or underpaid internships, and the essential role of connection-building via proactive outreach and humility.
  • “Be willing to find humility when first starting off and just making those connections... When you get in those doors, put the work in.” (17:59, Tasha)

“Skipping Steps” and Privilege

• Asia reflects on the privilege it sometimes takes to do unpaid work, the problem of trying to “skip steps” via social media, and how the slow, thorough journey equips you for long-term success.
  • “What happens when you skip steps is you get into rooms sometimes, and you—there's just certain things that you learn in the process and throughout the journey that you need for when you get to where you actually want to be.” (24:54, Asia)
• Tasha reiterates the importance of patience and purpose:
  • _"It's a marathon... If you're in it for the long game... you want your work to be purposeful. You don't want it to be here today and gone tomorrow." (27:28, Tasha)

5. Mental Health, Authenticity, and Community

The Emotional Toll

• Asia describes microaggressions, “swallowing your pride,” and anxiety as consequences of being one of few Black women in her field:
  • “The mental health toll that that takes is real, because a lot of times what that looks like is like, swallowing your pride in that moment... I started therapy... because I remember telling my mom, like, I cannot make it through this industry without having some type of therapy.” (29:08, Asia)

Building Community and Support Networks

• Tasha shares how the loneliness of being "the only one" inspired her to found Black Girls in Media. She recommends seeking out ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), safe spaces, and industry-specific communities—both inside and out of the workplace.

  • “Being able to decompress after a workday and have that safe space and group chat. I think it's important to seek out those kind of groups that are outside of your family and friends.” (34:05, Tasha)

• Asia adds the importance of finding “real, raw” relationships:

  • "I always gravitated toward who was real, like, who do I not have to be this industry version of Asia for." (35:34, Asia)

6. Looking Ahead: The Future of Black Women in Media

Predictions and Aspirations

• Growth Across Platforms:

  • “I see new platforms developing... traditional media is coming back... I see us really dominating when it comes to all forms of media and controlling that narrative.” (37:07, Tasha)

• Call for Pay Equity and True Diversity:

  • “Pay Black women what they are worth... Also I just—in these opportunities that come, I want to see all types of Black women being able to get these opportunities. There is diversity within diversity...” (37:59, Asia)

7. Media Spaces to Watch & Evolving Roles

Inspirational Creators & the Resurgence of Blogs

• Kyra Amonique (Atlanta-based creator) is lauded for her high-production content—exemplifying Black women’s creativity even amid ongoing pay disparities.

  • “Her content is like commercials... we look at white women... they can just go on social media and be like, ‘oh my gosh, I haven’t washed laundry in five days’ and get these crazy partnerships… Whereas Black women… have to do these grand productions.” (42:01, Asia)

• Substack and blogs are having a renaissance; these platforms foster deeper, more personal connections.

  • “There’s such an intimacy to blogs. It’s such a personal thing… that community… is like no other.” (44:30, Asia)
  • “I didn’t know... with TikTok and video content... if the world was ready to slow down and still read... I see it growing as well.” (45:27, Tasha)

Expanding Career Options

• Tasha highlights emerging, lesser-known media roles: social media editing, copywriting (for grants, emails, captions), grant applying, producing, and behind-the-scenes creative work.
  • “If you like writing, there’s so much you can do... you can help people apply to grants... producing, being a PA, social media editing...” (46:29, Tasha)

The Journalist as Content Creator—But Not Necessarily

• Asia urges young journalists not to be intimidated by social media:
  • “Social media isn’t for everybody... I do always tell people, I don’t want them to be discouraged because... that means I didn’t put in work or do all the internships and all these things and do the real hustling. While I think it can put you at an advantage, I don’t think it’s necessary.” (48:17, Asia)

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creating Opportunities:
  "If you aren’t going to give me an opportunity, I’m going to create an opportunity myself." (13:13, Asia)

• On Community:
  "We are the media, we are the culture. We shape what's happening. We shape what's trending." (11:07, Tasha)

• On Work Ethic:
  "Do not steer away from the work... that is not even, like, 10% of the job." (19:02, Asia)

• On Mental Health:
  "I had to turn to therapy while being in this industry, because... everything would always be about work, work, work, work, work, and even trying to explain... what this industry is." (29:08, Asia)

• On Diversity within Diversity:
  "There is diversity within diversity and that is what I really hope to see in the next five to 10 years." (37:59, Asia)

• On the Value of Patience:
  "It's a marathon... You want to be here for a while. You want your work to be purposeful." (27:28, Tasha)

9. Connect with the Guests

• Tasha McCaskill: Personal Instagram: @tashjmac, LinkedIn: Tasha McCaskill, Black Girls in Media (all platforms), [Website]
• Asia Miliah Aware: Social - @missasiamalia (all platforms), LinkedIn: Asia Miliah Aware, Work: The Cut

10. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Guest Introductions and Career Beginnings: 05:19 – 09:55
• Media Representation and Challenges: 10:48 – 15:06
• Independent Platforms and Mentorship: 15:06 – 16:47
• Advice for Aspiring Media Professionals: 17:34 – 20:52
• On Skipping Steps and Privilege: 24:20 – 27:28
• Mental Health Impact: 28:34 – 33:52
• Finding and Building Community: 33:52 – 36:59
• Future of Black Women in Media: 37:07 – 38:55
• Inspirational Content Creators and Spaces: 42:01 – 44:30
• Blogs & Substacks’ Resurgence: 44:30 – 46:12
• Emerging Careers: 46:12 – 47:57
• Journalism vs. Content Creation: 47:57 – 50:26

This episode provides a wealth of advice, validation, and hope for Black women in and aspiring to join the media industry, offering real talk about barriers, mental health, the necessity of authentic community, and how Black women are not only opening doors, but building new rooms altogether.